The Blog of Phyz: NGSS high school physical science breakdown: Take ...

The Blog of Phyz: NGSS high school physical science breakdown: Take ...: The Next Generation Science Standards  (NGSS) have now been finalized. I would be surprised if California did anything other than to adopt t...

Adding to Dean Baird's
informative post with regard Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Connecticut, in particular Seymour High School (SHS), is in the process of reviewing these Science Standards in all likelihood, will adopt them.  However, there will be some challenges that our department and other's will face.

For example, one thing that has not been  addressed yet is whether next year's 10th Graders will take the current Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT) or simply wait until they are in 11th Grade and just take the new NGSS Test.

Also, because of additional content or Performance Expectations (i.e. Earth Science, Space Science, and Environmental Science which have been incorporated into Life Science and Earth and Space Science Core Ideas) significant changes in course offerings and/or course content will have to occur. This is not a bad thing, however, especially since Earth and Space Science are back after being removed by the wisdom of the CAPT originators.

We have finished comparing our current science course offerings with the Skills and Content of the NGSS in order to identify deficiencies.  Of course there were many areas which need modification and I am not sure how the robust nature of the Skills and Content will be addressed properly before the end of a student's Junior year in High School.

Stay tuned for more when ever we know more...